Ocoee Whitewater Center

Whitewater Rafting

Tackling the Ocoee River

Safety Update from USDA Forest Service:
On April 26, 2022, the Ocoee Whitewater Center caught fire and was destroyed. No one was injured in the fire.

Recreation areas, including all trails and the lower lot, were opened to the public on Friday, May 27, 2022. However, the fenced-in area around the visitor center remains closed.

One of the legacies of the 1996 Summer Olympics, the Ocoee Whitewater Center, was the location of the Canoe, Kayak, and Slalom events. This was the first time these events were held on a natural river, and it was appropriate for the Ocoee to be chosen as the site as it was already one of the most popular whitewater rivers in the world. Located on Hwy. 64 north of McCaysville, the U.S. Forest Service built the center. Constructed using 60,000 tons of native rock, individually placed and cemented into position along the banks of the river, the river bed itself was narrowed to create the spectacular rapids necessary for the competition. Rafters, canoers, and kayakers all journey to the center located in the Ocoee River Gorge to enjoy the whitewater. Check out the hiking trails here! ...

Ocoee Whitewater Center
4400 Hwy 64
Copperhill, TN 37317
(423)496-0100

Directions to The Ocoee Whitewater Center from Atlanta:

  • Take Interstate 75 north to I-575
  • Continue north on I-575 to GA 515, the Georgia Mountain Parkway
  • In Blue Ridge, take GA 5 north to McCaysville
  • Then turn left on Tennessee Highway 68
  • In Ducktown, take U.S. 64 west to the Ocoee Whitewater Center on the left